IT Community of Central Eurasia: Women in Cybersecurity Azerbaijan

Malak Huseynova, City — Baku, Cybersecurity awareness specialist, LinkedIn

About the Community

The Women in Cybersecurity Azerbaijan community was established on May 31, 2025, at the initiative of Malak Huseynova, Zuhra Shahbazova, and Aida Ramiz. The Council also includes Nargiz Aliyeva and Lamia Najafova. 

The primary goal of the community is to increase the presence of women in the field of cybersecurity, create a platform for sharing experience, learning, and new opportunities for collaboration. We strive to unite professionals, inspire beginners, and contribute to the development of the local cybersecurity community in Azerbaijan.

The idea for creating the community arose as a response to a real need: the lack of visible female role models, the absence of open discussions about careers in InfoSec, and a safe space for learning, sharing experience, and mutual support.

Our main goal is to make cybersecurity more accessible, understandable, and “human,” showing that there is room in this field for different professional paths, backgrounds, personalities, and gender balance.

The key tasks of our community include:

— supporting beginners and those planning to transition into the field of information security
— creating an environment for networking, collaborations, and joint projects
— increasing the visibility of women experts in cybersecurity and promoting gender equality in the professional sphere
— raising awareness about cybersecurity and digital culture among professionals and the general public
— developing the professional and leadership potential of participants through training, mentoring, and experience sharing.

Community Members

The target audience of the Women in Cybersecurity Azerbaijan community includes:
— students and beginners who wish to develop in the field of cybersecurity
— professionals from IT, FinTech, business, and related fields
— information security, privacy, risk, and compliance specialists
— anyone interested in digital security and the conscious use of technology.

Although the community is focused on women, men are also welcome — we are creating an inclusive space for professional development and experience sharing.

You can join the community by subscribing to our official pages, participating in events, and showing initiative. We are always open to new members and ideas, as well as professional collaborations.

Contacts:
Application Form
Instagram
LinkedIn

Events for Community Members

We organize a variety of events and initiatives for members of the Women in Cybersecurity Azerbaijan community, including:
— offline and online meetups where participants can share experience and discuss current topics in InfoSec
— panel discussions and lectures with industry experts
— educational sessions on cybersecurity, privacy, and digital culture
— networking events to expand professional connections
— thematic meetings and mini-projects focused on practical skills and current case studies.

Most events are open to the general public, including students, IT and business professionals, and anyone interested in cybersecurity. Some events are targeted at community members and partners to ensure deeper and more productive interaction.

How the Community Helps with Development

The Women in Cybersecurity Azerbaijan community helps its members develop professionally and personally.

We provide participants with opportunities to:
— develop professional skills through educational sessions, workshops, and practical cases in cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance
— expand career horizons by learning about various paths in InfoSec and receiving advice from experienced specialists
— strengthen soft skills, including communication, public speaking, self-confidence, and leadership qualities
— find like-minded individuals and mentors, receive support and inspiration for new projects
— grow as individuals by participating in open discussions, debates, and joint initiatives that develop critical thinking and teamwork skills.

We strive to create a space where professional growth is inseparable from personal development and self-confidence.

Successful Projects

Although the community was created very recently, we already have ambitious plans for development, expanding event formats, attracting new members, and implementing projects that will help our members grow and develop even faster. We already have our first successful initiatives and collaborations. One of the key projects was the official launch of the community, which united specialists from various fields and created a platform for sharing experience and supporting members.

We have also begun cooperation with professional and educational initiatives, media, and companies interested in developing a cybersecurity culture and promoting women in IT.

For example, on September 20, 2025, together with the Azerbaijan Cybersecurity Center, operating under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and TEXIO Academy Azerbaijan, we held an event titled “Cybersecurity for Women: Career and Education.”

During the event:
— educational and career opportunities in the field of cybersecurity were presented to participants
— career growth paths and success stories of InfoSec specialists were discussed
— interactive panel sessions with speakers and experts were conducted
— networking was organized to share experience, answer questions, and establish professional contacts.

The main goal of the event was to increase women's activity in the field of cybersecurity, support their professional growth, and interest the younger generation in this area.

These first steps have shown that our mission is in demand, and we are confidently building a foundation for larger projects and partnerships in the future.

Plans

— expanding educational formats: new courses, workshops, and interactive initiatives for business and society
— new collaborative partnerships, including cooperation with Central Asian countries
— participation in international IT exhibitions and initiatives
— expanding to the regional and international level
— developing Security Awareness content for business and society.

We plan to implement these through partnerships, expert participation, and active community engagement.

There is a lot of work ahead, and we are ready to move forward together with our community toward new achievements.

Together in Cyber. Stronger in Community!